Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has insisted Manchester City have to win the Champions League to be considered one of the best teams in Europe just like Manchester United and Liverpool.
Guardiola guided City to their fifth Premier League title in six seasons, a fete that can only be described as “exceptional” and “extraordinary”.
“You have to win the Champions League to be considered one of the best teams like United or Liverpool,” he said.
Guardiola added: “But also it’s unfair to say if you don’t win it, the Premier League doesn’t make sense.
“Of course it makes sense, of course it’s important. It’s every day, every week. This club won five of the last six but six of the last 10 and seven of the last 12. It’s amazing.”
Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday automatically gave City a third straight title win, and they sealed the achievement in style by defeating Chelsea 1-0, courtesy of a Julian Alvarez goal.
Erling Haaland, who has scored a remarkable 52 goals in 49 games in all competitions – including a record-breaking 36 goals in 34 Premier League matches, said “It is unreal. I don’t know what to say. I am so happy. These are the memories I will remember for the rest of my life.
“Debut season, 36 goals, Premier League trophy and two more finals to come. Not bad.” Added the Norwegian.
City have their hopes high as far as clinching a treble is concerned, with the FA Cup and Champions League finals coming up next month.
They face United in the FA Cup final on June 3, before meeting Inter Milan a week later as they chase a first Champions League crown.
